Committee approves change to school nutrition data form aimed at restoring missed funding

Representative Lowe explained the proposed substitute for HB 30 32, which would require families to complete the annual free/reduced-price breakfast and lunch form under the National School Lunch Act or to opt out. He said the form is an enrollment data point used for state, federal and private funding; some schools that qualify for CEP (Community Eligibility Provision) are exempt from the form under federal rules and would remain so under the PCS.

Lowe told the committee the change could recover substantial funds for districts, saying, "$118,000,000 in our public schools" had been missed and the PCS "has ability to add several million dollars back in our public schools." Members asked questions; no further detail on the exact funding formula or which districts would gain funds was provided on the record.

The committee adopted the PCS as the working draft, held a recorded vote (8 ayes, 2 nays), and declared the bill passed to the next step.

The hearing did not record departmental estimates, district-level projections, or whether additional outreach to families would accompany the form change; those implementation details were not specified.